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Author	: Bill Kochman
Publish	: Sep. 15, 1997
Update	: Jun. 18, 2025
Parts	: 06

Synopsis:



Continuing our discussion from part two, as we've now clearly seen from the Scriptural evidence, the First Century Apostles were absolutely convinced that the period known as the Great Tribulation, the Lord's Second Coming, and the Rapture of the Saints were all going to occur during their lifetimes. Why did they believe these things so strongly? Because Jesus had told them so Himself. While we have examined a small number of the Bible verses where Jesus mentions His return and the gathering together of the Saints, at this point we are going to sharpen our focus, and concentrate on some more Scriptures which highlight the fact that these were NOT some far future promises as modern Futurists both wrongly believe and teach.

As I explain in other articles, such as the seven-part series entitled "Jesus Christ's Return: Have We Been Deceived?", in the Book of Revelation, the Angel of the Lord gave a message to the Apostle John, which he was to deliver to the Church of Philadelphia -- which was one of the First Century churches which was located in Asia Minor, today known as Turkey -- in which he told them that they would witness Christ's Return. The specific message was in fact that He -- meaning Jesus -- was coming quickly, as we see by the following verse:

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."


Earlier in this series, I discussed with you the importance of understanding Bible verses in their proper context. In other words, you really need to take the time to understand the who, what, where, when and why of everything that you're reading. You need to know the intended audience. Now in this particular case, it is obvious that the intended party was in fact the Church of Philadelphia, which was an actual church in Asia Minor. The previous verse is most certainly NOT for twenty-first century Christians, and to believe that it is, is a complete deception.

Let's be honest here, my dear friends. Does it really make any sense whatsoever that Jesus would tell the Seven Churches in Asia Minor that He was coming quickly, if He really wasn't intending to return for another two thousand years? Wouldn't it in fact be a bald-faced lie? But we know that God is most certainly NOT a liar, and Jesus is not a liar either. So who does that leave? Well, aside from the Devil himself -- who as we know is the father of lies -- it only leaves the misguided Futurists who twist the meaning of certain verses in order to support their wayward doctrines. Granted, some of them may not be intentionally lying, but they are certainly deceived, just as I was for so many years. Consider the following verses:

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"


"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."


"In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"


Now, consider the following. If the aforementioned verse that is found in Revelation chapter three -- where we are told that Jesus is coming quickly -- is referring to Jesus returning to the Earth during the First Century, then in order to be consistent, we are forced to conclude that the following verses that are also found in Revelation chapter twenty-two, must likewise be referring to Jesus returning during the First Century, and not during our present time:

"Behold, I COME QUICKLY: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book . . . And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I COME QUICKLY; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be . . . He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I COME QUICKLY. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."


My friends, please notice how John concludes those verses. He says "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Now, would John really write that if he thought that Jesus wasn't going to return for another two millennia? It would be rather preposterous, wouldn't it? But just by writing that, the Apostle John is clearly demonstrating that he believes the visions and the messages he has just been given. So once again we witness an attitude of anticipation and expectation. John knew and was fully convinced that Jesus would be returning very soon during his own lifetime.

By the way, my friends, in case you missed it, that is FOUR TIMES that we see the phrase "I come quickly" being used in the Book of Revelation. The four instances all point to the First Century return of Jesus Christ, and everything else that we have been discussing in this series, including the period known as the Great Tribulation, and the Rapture of the Saints. But we are not done just yet with this amazing Book of Revelation. As it turns out, "I come quickly" isn't the only specific time indicator which we find in this book.

As I have mentioned before, there are two other verses which we find in the Book of Revelation which point to the imminent fulfillment -- meaning during the First Century -- of all of the events we have been discussing in this series. But first, allow me to ask you a simple question. If I were to say to you "I really hope to finish this series shortly", how would you understand it? Do you think I mean next year or perhaps even the next decade? Obviously not. You would assume that I mean very soon, maybe even within hours or days, right? Well, two thousand years ago, the word "shortly" meant the very same thing in the Scriptures. For example, consider this set of verses that are found in the New Testament:

"But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither."


"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power."


"But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state . . . But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly."


"These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:"


"Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:"


"Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you."


"Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me."


"But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name."


Earlier I spoke to you about the importance of consistency and context in properly understanding God's Word. Now, it would be rather confusing if in all of the previous verses, the word "shortly" meant something different, correct? Yet it is rather obvious that the word "shortly" means the very same thing. In other words, in a very short amount of time. Bearing this point in mind, consider now the following two verses which we also find in the Book of Revelation, taking note of how the word "shortly" is used in them:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"


"And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY BE DONE."


Now tell me something. In order for the word "shortly" to be understood in a consistent manner, doesn't it seem obvious that in the previous two verses, the word ALSO means in a very short time, and that it is in fact in perfect agreement with "I come quickly"? What I find particularly interesting about these two verses is where they are located within the Book of Revelation. In other words, one in the first chapter of the Book, and one in the final chapter of the Book. In my opinion, this means that they are to serve as bookends, and that everything that is written between them -- represented by the word "things" in both of the verses -- must shortly come to pass. Not today during the twenty-first century, but two thousand years ago during the First Century AD. Do you agree?

But that is not all, my friends. As you will recall, in part two of this series, I shared with you a set of Bible verses which include the important phrase "the time is at hand". We can interpret that phrase to mean now, or at least very soon from the perspective of the First Century. This is obviously yet one more indication of the imminent fulfillment during the First Century of the things which are being discussed. But let me draw your attention again to one of those verses. As you will now plainly see, it too is found in the final chapter of the amazing Book of Revelation:

"And he saith unto me, SEAL NOT THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: for the time is at hand."


Do you see that, my friends? The Angelic Messenger is clearly telling John to NOT seal the Book! Why not? Because the time is at hand. Why not? Because I come quickly. Why not? Because the events which are described in this Book are things which must short come to pass, and which must shortly be done. In direct contrast, when the Prophet Daniel received his equally amazing prophecies, do you know what he was told? Consider the following verse for the answer:

"But thou, O Daniel, SHUT UP THE WORDS, AND SEAL THE BOOK, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."


Isn't that just mind-boggling? Daniel was specifically told to seal his Book. Why? Because the events he described in it were not going to be fulfilled quite yet. When would they be fulfilled? The verse clearly tells us "the time of the end". So this extremely vital information was purposely sealed up for hundreds of years, and its meaning was not understood. Then the Apostle John is told to NOT seal his Book, because that very time had now arrived, and everything would come to pass shortly. Not two thousand years in the future as those Futurists erroneously claim, but right then and there during the First Century! I hope you are as convinced as I am.

For anyone who may be a little confused, as I explain in a number of my other articles, the Book of Daniel, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, some of the information that is found in the Epistles, and the Book of Revelation all describe some of the very same prophetic events, and those events center on the nation of Israel and the Jews. In fact, Daniel and Revelation use some of the very same symbolic imagery. In other words, kings, horns, toes and different wild beasts. Isn't that amazing?

In my view, the way that these Books -- which, by the way, were written centuries apart -- flow smoothly together is clear proof that all of those warning messages, prophecies and visions were specifically designed for the disciples of the Lord who lived during the latter half of the First Century. It is clear to me that the purpose of all of that information was to prepare them for the things which they would personally experience during their lifetimes. What things? Again, the Great Tribulation, the Return of Jesus Christ, and the Rapture of the Saints.

To reiterate this key point, I personally find no evidence whatsoever to suggest that said information is addressed to Christians who are living two thousand years later today in our present time. As I noted earlier in this series, in my view, the only way to arrive at such erroneous conclusions is by purposely and intentionally distorting the meaning of certain Scriptures, and taking them out of context. But by following this foolish practice, it will only result in serious doctrinal confusion, as is quite clearly evidenced on certain social networks where wild theories and personal interpretations run rampant and are a dime a dozen.

However, I am personally convinced that God is not the author of confusion. He is in fact consistent and very organized in all His thoughts and ways. As I also mentioned in part one, I embrace the view that each of His prophecies has one specific fulfillment at one particular time in His overall story and plan for humanity. Furthermore, I remain convinced that it is His desire that we understand the mysteries of His Word. And we will, if we take the time to diligently study it, along with seriously studying secular history as well. Again, they go hand-in-hand.

My friends, honestly speaking, it may take many years for us to grasp it all -- or at least some of it -- as has been my case personally. In fact, I am not ashamed to say that I am still digging away with my pick and shovel, and continuously asking the Lord to give me greater understanding, so that I may be able to share the truth, and only the truth. I really don't want to leave this life if there is something I have taught which still requires some degree of correction. This is how seriously I take my task as teacher for the Lord. I realize that I will be held accountable for everything I say and teach. Thus, it is imperative that I get as much of it right as is humanly possible. So I strive I remain open to the Lord's leading. This is a topic which I discuss in the article called "The Office of Prophets and Teachers".

In this series, we have talked a lot about understanding the Bible in context, particularly when it comes to the issue of Bible prophecy. I have already shared a number of Scriptural time indicators which consistently prove that all of these events occurred during the last half of the First Century AD. These include the following words and phrases:

1. the time is at hand
2. is at hand
3. the last days
4. the last time
5. I will come to you
6. I come quickly
7. must shortly come to pass
8. must shortly be done

There is yet one more strong time indicator which I will now share with you. This particular indicator can be found in the Gospels, and in fact in Jesus' own words to His followers. It is the phrase "this generation". Sadly, just as they've done with other key words and phrases which are found in the New Testament, the Futurists have seriously distorted and taken out of context this phrase as well. In fact, they have been doing it for literally decades, sad to say, as I discuss in the following articles, and possibly more:

1. Jesus Christ's Return: Have We Been Deceived?
2. Modern Deceptions: Return to Israel, the Fig Tree and This Generation
3. The Day I Am Waiting For

If you have read any of the aforementioned prophecy-related articles and series, then you may know that the way in which they distort the meaning of this phrase is by saying that it is referring to our current generation, or more accurately, to the generation which witnessed the political birth of the modern state of Israel on May 15, 1948 when David ben Gurion -- who was the President of the Jewish Agency for Palestine -- declared it a nation. In fact, we could easily and rightly say that this famous date stands as the foundation stone for the entire modern doctrine of Futurism, because everything else that is related to Futurism is based upon it.

However, as I point out in "The Day I Am Waiting For", what the Futurists apparently do not realize yet -- or at least they are not admitting it openly -- is that by clinging to this particular date to supposedly justify and validate their beliefs, they have in fact set themselves up for a very great disappointment. While I amply discuss this same issue in the aforementioned three articles, I feel that it is important to review some of the major points here, because it ties in to the three key events we have been discussing. That is to say, the Great Tribulation, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Rapture. The main Bible verses which the Futurists utilize to supposedly validate their "this generation" belief are the following:

"Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."


"So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done."


"So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."


Regarding the phrase "all these things", if you take the time to read the three chapters which are mentioned above, you'll quickly see that it refers to the following key events:

01. false christs and false prophets
02. widespread deception
03. betrayal and persecution of the Jews
04. wars and rumors of wars
05. earthquakes in diverse places
06. famines
07. pestilences (plagues and diseases)
08. love towards fellow man abating
09. widespread preaching of the Gospel
10. abomination of desolation
11. Jerusalem surrounded by armies
12. great tribulation and affliction
13. Jerusalem and temple destroyed

Jesus clearly stated that all of these things would occur prior to His return, which would culminate in the Rapture of the Saints, and their deliverance from all those things. Now, the Futurists will insist that all of those signs are present in our current time. Add to that the fact they are fully convinced that the Parable of the Fig Tree represents Israel being declared a nation in 1948 -- which I disagree with -- and they believe that they have a water-right case. But is this really true? Are we the generation of which the Lord spoke?

Upon closer examination, we discover that their so-called water-tight case is not as solid as it may seem to some Christians who don't possess a strong foundation in God's Word, and who even less have a strong knowledge of ancient First Century history. But first things first. Was Jesus really talking about our generation? Please remember again what I said earlier regarding reading the Bible in context. In order to understand what Jesus truly meant by the phrase "this generation", we simply need to see how it is used in other verses which are found in the Gospels. A quick search reveals the following. Please patiently read them all, and I think you will probably get the point:

"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children."


"Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here."


"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."


"And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation."


"And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children."


"And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here . . . Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation."


"For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation."


So do you see it my friends? There's not a single indication in any of the above verses that Jesus is referring to a far future generation living in the twenty-first century. None. There should be no doubt in your mind that all of the verses are referring to a generation of Jewish people who lived two thousand years ago during the First Century. Isn't it rather obvious? Isn't it plain to see that when we read the verses together as a whole that the phrase refers to Jews who were actually listening to the Lord speak at that very time, and to that generation of Jewish people as a whole? If we read those verses in context, there is no other conclusion at which we can honestly arrive.

That in itself is another very important point. As I shared with you earlier, these prophetic events center on the Jews and on the nation of Israel as a whole. They have nothing to do with modern American Christians as so many of my online Christian friends like to think. Please remember again how I informed you that the Daniel prophecies, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21 and the Book of Revelation are all linked together, and deal with a lot of the very same events. It is about the fate of the Jews during the First Century, and here is your proof. Please take special note of the words I have placed in uppercase letters:

"Seventy weeks are determined upon THY PEOPLE and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."


"Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall THY PEOPLE in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."


"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of THY PEOPLE: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time THY PEOPLE shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."


So the phrase "thy people" in Daniel, and the phrase "this generation" in the Gospels, are both speaking about First Century Jews, and particularly those Jews who happened to live in Jerusalem at that time. As we continue our lesson, you will learn exactly why that is. So the big question is this: If in all of the previous verses we understand that the phrase "this generation" is referring to the generation which was alive at the time that Jesus walked the earth in the flesh, why do the Futurists suddenly change course by violating the continuity of the Scriptures, and by totally changing the meaning of "this generation", by claiming that this phrase is referring to our current generation? It is like properly identifying twenty red cars as being red, but then when car number twenty-one comes along, we claim that it is blue, even though it is also really red.

Please go to part four for the continuation of this series.

⇒ Go To The Next Part . . .

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